Review - clockoff//mixer
Fly by Night, There's no need to be a fly on the wall at this little beauty
You can get seriously comfortable in this pocket-sized waterside bar. So comfortable, in fact, that you can pop in for pre-show drinks before a trip to the nearby Sydney Theatre then miss the actual show. It happens like this: you score your favourite table (mine's in the far front-corner, nearest the water view), tuck into a tapas platter and tasty pinot noir, lose your self in good conversation, check your watch and oops! The curtain-up has been and gone.
So, you may as well stay and enjoy more of Firefly's friendly service and giant wine selection while ongoing the yachts moored outside the Walsh Bay wharves' new luxury apartments.
Another reason for lingering longer is that the bar only contains about 45 people at a time, so when you've found a seat on a busy night, you're inclined to hold your territory for as long as possible.
With all tables rather that standing room, Firefly never becomes packed and squashy. It also means table service, in the form of cute, unflappable waiters, are happy to chat and take extra care of everyone. Warm lighting and dark wood add to the intimate atmosphere, and with all the new development in the area, there's plenty to observe from your harbourside perch.
It's sueful to visit the toilet before you arrive, because to do so at Firefly is an arduous ritual involving a key on a big wooden stick and a trek along the warfe to a hidden bathroom. But it's the only moan I have about this otherwise delightful spot. Don't bother with pre-theatre drinks - I'd recommend devoting a whole evening to this special little bar.
Amy Cooper is a social writer for S magazine
